Looking For Conflict Where There Is None

[ChezC3]

NBA owner to sell Atlanta Hawks after racist email emerges of his complaints about too many black cheerleaders and white fans 'being scared away'
Bruce Levenson wrote racially charged email two years ago
Claimed the email was 'to bridge Atlanta's racial sports divide'
Instead blamed poor black fans for keeping white fans away from arena
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he supported Levenson walking away

Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenson to sell interest in team after racist email emerges | Mail Online

I read the article, please read the article. Included in the article is the email in question. I see nothing racist or offensive in the email. I see one man's interpretation as to why an organization has a low season ticket base.

However, under the pressure of the PC Inquisition Levenson has back tracked and gave a mea culpa to prevent another auto-da-fé...

'If you're angry about what I wrote, you should be,' Levenson said in Sunday's statement. 'I'm angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them.'

It seems political correctness has run so far amuck that it is no longer acceptable to call a spade a spade...

 

[StillBallin75]

Being honest and being dumb are not mutually exclusive. Hawks attendance is down because the team is running on an treadmill of eternal mediocrity, and because Hawks fans just generally suck. Blaming blacks for scaring whites away seems to me to be a scapegoat for one's incompetence.

It also begs the question, what's so scary about black people that whites are afraid to attend sports events alongside them? Or is it just more racist bullcrap?

 

[AJiveMan]

Being honest and being dumb are not mutually exclusive. Hawks attendance is down because the team is running on an treadmill of eternal mediocrity, and because Hawks fans just generally suck. Blaming blacks for scaring whites away seems to me to be a scapegoat for one's incompetence.

It also begs the question, what's so scary about black people that whites are afraid to attend sports events alongside them? Or is it just more racist bullcrap?

There's a lot to be said of sucky fans. Take the Chicago Cubs fans for instance, it's the exact opposite, the team absolutely sucks, but there's nearly a packed Wrigley Field every time the Cubs play.
go figure.

 

[ecofarm]

It also begs the question, what's so scary about black people that whites are afraid to attend sports events alongside them? Or is it just more racist bullcrap?

Get ready for a file-dump of crime stats and "I guess the facts are racist".

 

[GBFAN]

God forbid someone should actually put forth a cogent comment ... the PC world will crucify them.

 

[StillBallin75]

There's a lot to be said of sucky fans. Take the Chicago Cubs fans for instance, it's the exact opposite, the team absolutely sucks, but there's nearly a packed Wrigley Field every time the Cubs play.
go figure.

knicks and raiders also come to mind.

 

[ChezC3]

Being honest and being dumb are not mutually exclusive. Hawks attendance is down because the team is running on an treadmill of eternal mediocrity, and because Hawks fans just generally suck. Blaming blacks for scaring whites away seems to me to be a scapegoat for one's incompetence.

It also begs the question, what's so scary about black people that whites are afraid to attend sports events alongside them? Or is it just more racist bullcrap?

Well, I'm not saying he couldn't have better elaborated on his position. Essentially though I see it as a discussion on demographic priorities being given to a majority group which creates a possible aversion for another group. The other group being the traditional and statistically proven majority purchasers of season tickets throughout the rest of the league.

:slapme:

 

[ttwtt78640]

The idea that the racial mix of fans is the issue, i.e. that to attract more whites you must reduce the number of black fans, defies logic. A better performing team will attract (and maintain) more fans of all races - it is not black fans that are scary but the team's performance.

 

[StillBallin75]

On top of it all, I think it's just a low-class move to blame your customers (i.e. the people who ****ing put money in your pockets) for your lack of success. just my $0.02.

 

[Arcana XV]

What he basically said is that blacks are too poor to matter and that the well-off white people who do matter are so scared of black people they won't come to the games. He unintentionally insulted both demographics. I don't think he's a racist at all, though. Just concerned about the bottom line.

 

[Linc]

It seems political correctness has run so far amuck that it is no longer acceptable to call a spade a spade...

Why did Levenson admit that he was wrong and embarrassed in such a sincere way?
At least he had the balls to man up to what he did .

 

[PirateMk1]

knicks and raiders also come to mind.

Raiders fans are now masochists, we dream of the good old days of glory and are stuck with oh no not again.

 

[ChezC3]

Why did Levenson admit that he was wrong and embarrassed in such a sincere way?
At least he had the balls to man up to what he did .

Because he seen what happens when you speak your mind.

 

[PirateMk1]

On top of it all, I think it's just a low-class move to blame your customers (i.e. the people who ****ing put money in your pockets) for your lack of success. just my $0.02.

That's always a low class move. It isn't the customer, its you.

 

[Linc]

Because he seen what happens when you speak your mind.

I have gained respect for Levenson through his Grown-Up behavior after the fact.
It is quite clear to even the greatest doubter how sincerely hurt he felt by what he had said.
Most of us will now move on and try to make this a learning moment, especially for our youth .

 

[ChezC3]

What he basically said is that blacks are too poor to matter and that the well-off white people who do matter are so scared of black people they won't come to the games. He unintentionally insulted both demographics. I don't think he's a racist at all, though. Just concerned about the bottom line.

This is a perfect example of the hypersensitivity that I'm speaking of. Reading further than what was written.

Are blacks in that area affluent enough to purchase season tickets in proportion with the rest of the leagues season ticket holders? Probably not. Do white people want to spend money on something that is clearly catering to a black demographic? Probably not.

 

[ChezC3]

I have gained respect for Levenson through his Grown-Up behavior after the fact.
It is quite clear to even the greatest doubter how sincerely hurt he felt by what he had said.
Most of us will now move on and try to make this a learning moment, especially for our youth .

I'm sure your respect for him has been a transformative experience.

 

[Linc]

I'm sure your respect for him has been a transformative experience.

Since you still don't get how the rest of us have moved on to making this a positive,
let me mention that this incident could be worth a few votes in the Atlanta area in huge Georgia Senate and Governor's races .

 

[Linc]

Are blacks in that area affluent enough to purchase season tickets in proportion with the rest of the leagues season ticket holders? Probably not. Do white people want to spend money on something that is clearly catering to a black demographic? Probably not.

I'd suggest you boycott the NBA as I now boycott Burger King, Chik-fil-A, Hobby Lobby and any other turds that go overseas
to cheat on taxes or try to tell women what to do with their bodies .

 

[Linc]

No need to watch E$PN since I can see the same thing on MSNBC.
Just when the NFL had a great Sunday, we'll see how this rubs on tonight's double-header .

 

[ChezC3]

I'd suggest you boycott the NBA as I now boycott Burger King, Chik-fil-A, Hobby Lobby and any other turds that go overseas
to cheat on taxes or try to tell women what to do with their bodies .

Why??

 

[AlbqOwl]

It is a sad state of affairs that somebody must be punished for speaking what he or she sees as the truth in a private conversation. We see it happening again and again. In today's world of political correctness police dictating what is and is not acceptable to think, speak, or be--what words are allowed and what are not--what people are allowed to be and what they are not. . . .it makes one wonder if unalienable rights and liberty even exist any more. The drumbeat seems to be that you will do it as the PC police demand that you do it, or you will be destroyed. To me that seems more in tune with the Inquisition or Nazi Germany than the America that once was. Levenson was speaking truth as he saw it and as it probably was. It is a sad state of affairs when we can't state the truth about what is because it is not politically correct to do so.

What apparently happened:

What the email said:​

Levenson's email was sent in 2012 to general manager Danny Ferry, along with ownership partners Ed Peskowitz and Todd Foreman. In it, Levenson attempts to link a high percentage of black fans to the low season ticket sales. He theorizes the white fans are "scared" by the high percentage of black fans, and while he says complaints over such issues is "racist garbage," Levenson also says he wants to change the demographics of home games to help put more white, middle-aged men in the seats. Here is the letter in full, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
What we know (and don't) about Bruce Levenson selling his share of*the Hawks - SBNation.com​

Racist? Or reality? If you reverse it and he was talking about black fans being put off by mostly white people in those seats, and the effort was to put more black people in the seats, would there have been the same bru ha ha?

I think we've lost all common sense.

 

[Arcana XV]

This is a perfect example of the hypersensitivity that I'm speaking of. Reading further than what was written.

Are blacks in that area affluent enough to purchase season tickets in proportion with the rest of the leagues season ticket holders? Probably not. Do white people want to spend money on something that is clearly catering to a black demographic? Probably not.

You're making the same mistake you're accusing others of making. You're reading way too much into my post. I'm not saying that this is how I personally interpret the email. I'm saying this is how many people have interpreted the email. I believe him when he says he didn't mean it that way. Which is why I used the word "unintentionally" in my post. I applaud him for apologizing for the misunderstanding. As far as I'm concerned everyone should accept the apology, whether we think it was necessary or not, and move on. Unfortunately, I have a feeling some civil rights leaders are going to take this and blow it all out of proportion.

 

[ChezC3]

You're making the same mistake you're accusing others of making. You're reading way too much into my post. I'm not saying that this is how I personally interpret the email. I'm saying this is how many people have interpreted the email. I believe him when he says he didn't mean it that way. Which is why I used the word "unintentionally" in my post. I applaud him for apologizing for the misunderstanding. As far as I'm concerned everyone should accept the apology, whether we think it was necessary or not, and move on. Unfortunately, I have a feeling some civil rights leaders are going to take this and blow it all out of proportion.

No, I'm responding to what was written.

Originally Posted by Arcana XV View Post
What he basically said is that blacks are too poor to matter and that the well-off white people who do matter are so scared of black people they won't come to the games. He unintentionally insulted both demographics. I don't think he's a racist at all, though. Just concerned about the bottom line.

You're now adding to your original post which didn't include these caveats you're now presenting. So, no I didn't do what I'm accusing others of.

That being said, it has become fashionable now to crucify anyone who speaks there mind on issues regarding race that doesn't toe the line to current PC standards.

It's despicable, and I won't have it. I've never tolerated PC BS, and I never will.

 

[Arcana XV]

No, I'm responding to what was written.



You're now adding to your original post which didn't include these caveats you're now presenting. So, no I didn't do what I'm accusing others of.

That being said, it has become fashionable now to crucify anyone who speaks there mind on issues regarding race that doesn't toe the line to current PC standards.

It's despicable, and I won't have it. I've never tolerated PC BS, and I never will.

I specifically stated that his words were not meant to be insulting. Do you know what "unintentionally" means?
I also specifically said that I don't see him as a racist.

So, again, read what I said and not what you think I said. Every word matters, not just the first sentence which I'm assuming is what's still sticking in your craw.